Data that ultimately reveals exactly how effective an extraction system is at controlling condensation and offers energy savings of up to 80% in social housing installations can now be captured and downloaded thanks to innovative microprocessor controlled technology built in to the latest Energysaver Datamatic fans from Airtech Environmental Systems.
Thought to be a world first and the most significant development in air extraction since fans were first introduced into domestic dwellings in the 1930’s, this revolutionary technology enables housing associations and local authorities to ascertain if a fan has been run, when it was run and for how long; crucial information that can be used to determine the efficacy of an extraction system. Basic devices that simply log hours run have been available for some time but, until now, no one has been able to offer comprehensive real time data that answers the two most common complaints from tenants: ‘my fan never runs’ and, conversely, ‘my fan is always running’.
All environmental data is displayed on a graph. A ‘Fan On’ is shown as a vertical box known as a ‘Manhattan’. This data record can be downloaded and displayed on a laptop or PC. Clicking on any one box reveals both a minimum and maximum run time in that timed period. Separately, on an ‘Event Summary’, the total run time from when the fan was installed is shown.
Unlike other fans the Energysaver Datamatic fan is installed with a non-switched fused-spur so tenants cannot tamper with the power supply. Air quality is therefore monitored continuously and the fan operates only to adjust RH when necessary. This ensures that the equipment does the job it was intended for and allows energy savings of up to 80% to be achieved. As such it makes a considerable contribution to meeting HECA (Home Energy Conservation Act 1995) requirements. Although actual fan running costs are around one eighth of the cost of a 60W light bulb the real savings are in lower fuel bills as heating systems do not have to work so hard to maintain temperatures.
The data processor also logs in real time RH, temperature, RH set point, vapour pressure and dew point every two hours on a rolling 420 days basis.